The completion of this renovation would lead to a new course, which the school hopes to start immediately after its completion. The expansion was made possible by Glenn R. Jones, the library’s long-time benefactor, who is also the chairman and chief executive officer of Jones International, Jones Radio Networks and Jones Media Group, and chancellor of Jones International University, a cyber college.
A sum of $100,000 was donated by Jones to enlarge the room so that it could be used by 25 to 30 students at a time which could accommodate only 15 so far. Installation of new equipments was also a part of the project, said Chris Gill, the principal. The $600,000-plus library was built during the 1999-2001 high school renovation project — with a $500,000 donation from Jones, a 1948 Hickory graduate — and has been used for mock trials, exchange student contacts with their home classrooms, alternative education classes and enrichment activities.
